Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

When Grubb Properties of Charlotte gained the approval from the Chapel Hill Town Council to begin the development of Glen Lennox, Clay Grubb hired Dan McMains, owner of JD Tree Pros, a company that was already working to preserve and maintain the landscape of the iconic, 50-year-old community.

What do I think of growth? McMains said recently. What did I think when they were building those houses beside our farm in Apex? What did I see? I saw my woods turned into a housing development. Did I have a problem with it?

At first I did. And then when my daughter grew up and moved out of my home, she moved into one of those houses and I thought to myself, well, she loves Apex. She wants to be here. Anybody that lived in Glen Lennox, for any part of their life, I bet you today would say, yeah, that place really does need to come down and be rebuilt.

I mean there has to be a lifespan of all things, but when someone says something to me about growth or changes, I ask how small of a footprint will we make with how big of an impact on the way we change it.

McMains already knew the Grubb Properties goals when he agreed to take on the task of removing, reclaiming and saving the hundreds of trees on the property.

Weve worked for Grubb over the years because theres been scenarios where Grubb Properties really wanted to know is this doable? Is it salvageable? McMains said. Can we really make something happen? Because you can put so much money into saving the tree when you are better off to remove it and come back with species and specimens that you know are going to be able to adapt to what youre doing.

First of all, is it safe enough for pedestrians and people who are going to be around old trees. Think about how inviting that area is now to walk around. You dont see certain specimens where theres such foot traffic. But they were so real with how they approached a job that if it was doable, lets do it. And they trusted me and I trusted them that they would do it that way.

McMains has worked on many projects where the owners insisted certain trees remain, with little long-range benefit.

The prime example was that great huge, beautiful tree over at Carey Towne Center, McMains said It was up on this big hill and they basically rerouted the parking lot. And the way they put the food courts and all those things in there to save this one tree, they put a huge 30-foot retaining wall to get a road around it. Two years later, it got struck by lightning. A few years later it got struck by lightning again.

So, the reality of it is good in theory, but realistically youre talking about a tree that was at the end of its lifespan. Why not take it down and preserve the area and make it a green space that we can really enjoy plant specimens that are going to be long term and teachable and, by God, use something that will give back, like the American chestnuts that are giving you food that you can eat from this tree thats coming up out of the ground. So thats just where Im at with it.

McMains knew there would be a lot of tree work at Glen Lennox with many options and opportunities.

I was working with the same home-owners association there and was familiar with what was taking place on the property, he said. I knew a lot of the trees. And then when Grubb reached out and said, Hey, were doing this in multiple phases. I was like, Thats great. Whats your plan?

It was the way they wanted to approach it. They were looking for ways of recycling or re-using this wood and thats where Carolina Urban Recycling in Charlotte came in. They were ready to drop these trees in certain places that can jeopardize fracturing the wood and breaking it to when you do go to mill it, the wood would just fall apart because the canopies were all taken off before they were cut down.

I liked how they were picking out pieces that they knew would hold the carbon inside for decades or good grade wood. And when they were talking about what they were doing with rest of it, how willing they were to work with UNC and recycling every bit of it.

I was like, okay, so were taking something that before could have potentially been upwards of 60 to 70 percent going into a landfill to now recycling all these boards. All this wood has been incorporated back into recycling, plus all the by-product from the root systems and the brush and all.

McMains reviewed their original plan and suggested what could be done and what would not benefit the neighborhood in the long run.

Some of the trees they wanted to keep with all the utilities, all the things that were going to happen in that area. And Im like, this is not gonna work. Youre gonna end up stressing and killing these trees.

And then when you do, theyre going to be harvested in a way that its beyond potentially re-using the wood because of worms or whatever the case may be, like fungal.

So, lets look at the differences of doing that now, knowing that its going to happen, and lets be real with it. And thats when we went to the church next door and talked to them specifically about saving these large oaks that were right there. And then a couple other items where they were willing to spend a little more money on doing it.

McMains said he pushed back on the original grading contract to clear and bulldoze trees so the cranes could come in to build the parking deck.

I said, absolutely not! Not if youre keeping that tree and this tree and youre removing this one here for unknown reasons, maybe for sidewalks or whatever the purpose may be; utilities were majority of it. You cant just push that up and tear up all that ground and tear these root systems out.

So they put a hold on that part of the work until we figured out a better way of doing it. Those were the things I love that they didnt just say, that sounds good but were not doing that because its going to cost a little more. Its going to take a little more time. Clay Grubb was more interested in preserving it the best way possible. And they did it.

The way he wanted it done, with our cranes, and the way we can remove trees, were not going to be damaging other trees or even infrastructures of the tree because, you know, a lot of people just see the tree. They dont realize whats underground. Its just as important if not more important.

We talked about the layers of mulch to put over all the trees that were being preserved. They went thick enough on it that we werent compacting all that soil. So thats one of the reasons were moving our company closer to Chapel Hill because I like the way people want to save trees and the ones that need to be removed. Were doing it without destroying the rest of environment. Thats pretty significant to me.

Related

See original here:
Sponsored: Tree Pros Hired to Preserve and Recycle Trees at Glen Lennox - Chapelboro.com

There are about 9 million of us living here, and we all cant be delusional.

Apart from those who live here primarily because of job or family, most New Jerseyans live here because they like it here! New York City is a quick PATH or train ride away why live there?

The Shore, the Pine Barrens, beautiful countryside, diners, beaches, the nations most diverse city, small towns, great scenic highways does any state pack as much variety into one compact package as New Jersey? Nope.

Here are the 50 best reasons to live in New Jersey, from someone who was born here (Trenton) and has travelled endlessly to every part of the state. This list could have easily included 100 or more items.

What are your favorite reasons to live here? Let us know in the comments section. The list is not ranked.

Forget that store-bought, grown-in-California, -Mexico, -Peru or wherever produce. Nothing beats a tomato, peach or other fruit or vegetable from a Jersey roadside stand. Scores of family-run stands dot the landscape, and there are an additional 144 community farmers markets in towns across the state. N.J. ranks third nationally in cranberry production, fourth in tomatoes, bell peppers, peaches and cucumbers (cukes? who knew?) and sixth in blueberries. Were not called the Garden State for nothing.

Allentown (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

New Jersey may be the nations most densely populated state, but its small towns are underpublicized, underappreciated treasures. Of our 565 municipalities, 397 have populations under 15,000 and 190 have populations under 5,000, according to census figures. Those numbers dont even include the towns and hamlets that are part of municipalities: the Chatsworths, Mauricetowns and West Trentons of the world. Unlike, say, the Shore, small towns make for great year-round exploration. Heres my list of the states top 33 small towns, ranked.

Summit Diner

Diners didnt start in New Jersey they had their origins in Providence, R.I. but today the Garden State is the diner capital of the world, with 600 or so of the shiny stainless steel gems. They come in small and super-sized, vintage and brand new, limited hours or open all-night, with menus ranging from one page to telephone book-sized. The Broad Street Diner in Keyport won our N.J.'s best diner showdown, but your favorite diner is always the best. Heres my list of the best diner in each of N.J.'s 21 counties.

Nearly 70,000 acres of woods, mountains and valleys. One hundred miles of hiking trails. Thirty miles of biking trails. Spectacular waterfalls. Twenty-seven miles of the vaunted Appalachian Trail. Historic villages. Abundant wildlife. Maybe no other part of the state packs as much outdoor adventure in one place as the Delaware Water Gap. The Old Mine Road is one of the states great scenic highways, and spring is a perfect time to take a hike on one of those trails.

At low tide, students walk their sea kayaks across a sand bar in Barnegat Bay near the Natural Resource Education Center on Sedge Island.SL

What would we possibly do without the Shore? Its New Jerseys greatest asset and its best calling card, even if it gets overrun in the summer. With 130 miles of beaches, plus small towns, boardwalks, restaurants, parks and maybe even a few secret spots, the Shore beckons us every summer. Its in our DNA. Just try to ignore those unavoidable traffic jams on the Parkway. Ive lived the past 15 years down the Shore. I cant imagine living anywhere else.

Beer flight, Glasstown Brewing, Millville (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Fifty wineries and 100-plus craft breweries and brew pubs: New Jersey may have a way to go to match California in vino and Colorado in brew, but its certainly no slouch. The Garden State Wine Growers Association publishes handy guides in print and online, covering wineries from Alba to Working Dog. And craft beer lovers like me never have to travel far to find a super sour or prize-worthy porter. A flight from Glasstown Brewing in Millville is shown in the photo.

Nicoletta Pizza, Bernardsville (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Its accepted as truth (by New Yorkers, naturally) that the Big Apple makes the best pizza. Well, as the person who has eaten at more pizzerias on both sides of the river than anyone (1,200-plus places and counting), Ill call it a dead heat. (That screaming you hear is from outraged New Yorkers.) My advice to them: Cross the Hudson once in a while. Heck, even the New York Times own reviewer called Razza in Jersey the best pizza in NYC. Here are the 10 finalists in our N.J.'s best pizzeria showdown last summer.

most and least diverse states in the U.S.

New Jersey is the fourth most ethnically diverse state (more diverse than New York), and Jersey City is the most ethnically diverse city in the U.S. (NYC is No. 3). North Jersey especially is a United Nations of dining; no need to schlep into the big city for ethnic eats, no matter how little known.

Pork roll egg and cheese, Gronsky's House, High Bridge (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

A Taylor ham (or pork roll), egg and cheese is New Jerseys unofficial state sandwich, and since we have an official state reptile, state bug even a state dinosaur youd think some New Jersey governor would come along and proclaim Taylor ham, egg and cheese the official state sandwich. The textbook definition a lightly smoked and cured pork product, with spices, salt, and preservatives doesnt do it justice. When the bread, egg, cheese and Taylor ham/pork roll are just right, you have something pretty close to a breakfast epiphany. Heres a video by Thrillist in which several experts (one youll recognize) explain why Taylor ham (or pork roll) rules New Jersey. And heres my list of N.J.'s 33 best Taylor ham/pork roll sandwiches.

A time lapse image of the Somerville circleSL

Many people hate traffic circles. (These are usually people who have no clue how to navigate them.) I love traffic circles and will cry like a baby when the last one bites the dust. Circles have tormented and terrified Jersey drivers since 1925, when the Airport Circle opened in Pennsauken. I love circles so much I even hold the unofficial worlds record for most trips around a circle (55) without stopping. And lets not forget that World War I officially ended at what is now the Somerville Circle. Really. On July 12, 1921, President Warren Harding signed a joint congressional resolution declaring an end to the war against Germany and Austria. On that historic day, the president found time to play two rounds of golf; in between, he signed the resolution at the country estate of former state Sen. Joseph Frelinghuysen. Theres a marker in front of the PC Richard commemorating the occasion.

Its an island, and a world, away. Long Beach Island 18 miles long, although you can easily walk from one side to the other has always seemed to be the anti-Jersey Shore: less noise, congestion, neon and traffic, although you dont want to be on Route 72 heading to LBI on a summer weekend. (Theres no other way in unless you have a boat.) Beach Haven, Surf City and Ship Bottom are the main municipalities, although my favorite town is Barnegat Light, at the northern tip, home to Mustache Bills Diner, Viking Village and Barnegat Lighthouse aka Old Barney.

Snack stand, Storybook Land (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Somehow, in a world of Great Adventure, video games and other distractions, New Jerseys old-school amusement parks survive if not thrive. The Land of Make Believe, in Hope, has been open since 1954. Storybook Land in Egg Harbor Township, built around nursery rhyme characters, opened one year later. Wild West City, the western heritage theme park, opened in 1957. Its not an amusement park, but Space Farms in Beemerville does have 500-plus live animals, nine museum buildings and antique cars and firearms. All four attractions are proof that you dont need high-tech to create hijinks for kids of all ages.

Texas Weiners, Plainfield (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

If you love hot dogs, dont move, because New Jersey is the center of the hot dog universe. There are probably more hot dog trucks, carts and storefronts crammed into Passaic, Essex, Bergen and Union counties than any comparably-sized area in the country. New Jersey is not just the center of the hot dog universe, its the cradle of hot dog civilization. Birthplace of the Italian hot dog? Newark, Jimmy Buffs, 1932. Birthplace of the chili dog or Texas weiner? Paterson or Plainfield, take your pick; both cities claim the honor. Sabrett, found at hot dog carts and trucks across the country, is headquartered in Englewood. Best Provision, a major supplier of hot dogs to supermarkets, is headquartered in Newark. Heres my behind-the-scenes profile of this low-profile company.

New York City? Nathans, the most iconic hot dog stand in the world, is there, but otherwise its pretty much a million street carts selling the same bland hot dog. Whoopee.

Wildwood boardwalk (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

There is something about the soft comforting plunk of shoe or sandal on the boards. Around you are the sights, sounds and smells of summer wheel operators barking; kids screaming gleefully on the rides; the welcoming whiff of funnel cake, ice cream, pizza and sausage sandwiches. I walked every boardwalk from Sea Bright to Cape May for the ultimate NJ boardwalk guide. But I didnt need to make that journey to know the best boardwalk in NJ: Wildwood. Not just because it was the boardwalk of my youth, but because it packs more food, fun, variety, piers and neon than any other, including Seaside. It boasts Jerseys only boardwalk sundial and its only boardwalk chapel. And dont forget to watch the tram car, please. Heres my list of the states 40 best boardwalk foods.

Roosevelt Park, Edison

County parks are one of Jerseys underrated treasures, tree-shaded havens perfect for picnics, games and cookouts. I worked in Middlesex County for many years, and that countys parks were second homes to me Johnson Park in Highland Park and Piscataway; Roosevelt Park in Edison; and Donaldson Park in Highland Park. One of the most beautiful county parks is Mantoloking Bridge County Park in Brick, with a 70-foot-long pier, boardwalk, picnic area and gazebo.

DiCosmo's Italian Ice, Elizabeth (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Its little more than a shack, and one of the states food legends. DiCosmos Italian Ice in Elizabeth has been a Peterstown fixture since 1915, when Katerina and Giovanni DiCosmo started making Italian ice at the corner of Fourth and High. Only three or four flavors are available at any one time. One stop, and youll never go to that chain water ice store again.

The Pinelands 1.1 million acres takes up a major chunk of the state, but Im guessing a slim minority of New Jerseyans have actually spent time exploring it. (Driving through it on the way to somewhere else doesnt count.) Its paradise to hikers, canoeists, fishermen and folks who just want to escape the outside world. Stop at the Pinelands Adventures office in Shamong to pick up a Pinelands Exploration Map and learn about their tours and trips.

Belford Co-Op, Belford (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Fish doesnt get any fresher than at one of New Jerseys seafood co-ops, where fishermen offload just-caught fish and shellfish, which are then sold in the co-ops market. Co-ops include Belford (in photo), Viking Village in Barnegat Light and Point Pleasant Beach.

Kohr's custard and ice cream stand on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights.SL

No Jersey Shore visit is complete without a cool, creamy cone or cup from Kohrs or Kohr Bros., two sides of the family business that started with a stand by five Kohr brothers on the Coney Island boardwalk in 1919. There are Kohrs or Kohr Bros. locations in Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights, Wildwood and Cape May, among other places.

Barbecue, Ironbound festival (Ed Murray I The Star-Ledger)

The states greatest food neighborhood, Newarks Ironbound is home to some 200 restaurants, cafes, markets and specialty food stores. It was "destroyed'' in the 2005 "War of the Worlds'' remake with Tom Cruise, but this is one neighborhood that seems destined to last forever. There are Portuguese, Spanish and Brazilian restaurants and markets for sure, but also Italian, Ecuadorian, Mexican and many others. Its a culinary wonderland, steps from Newark Penn Station.

The road to Pakim Pond (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

North Jerseyans seem to take special delight in putting down South Jersey, but South Jerseyans want no part of "up north,'' and for good reason. Less people, less traffic, more peace and quiet, more open space the Pine Barrens in particular. Probably less aggravation and agita, too. There may be less to "do'' in South Jersey, and thats just the point. Here are 11 reasons why South Jersey may be better than either North or Central Jersey.

The view atop High Point State Park (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Its the states highest point, at 1,803 feet, but have you actually been to the top? Didnt think so. High Point State Park was dedicated in 1923. The landscaping was done by the Olmsted Brothers of Boston, sons of Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park. Follow the road to the top (there is, improbably, a beach along the way) and take in the breathtaking views from the top of New Jersey.

Fork in the Road food truck (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Ten years ago, the states food truck scene was relegated to a handful of trucks. In 2013, the Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival at Monmouth Park was the first large-scale food truck festival. Now, nearly 200 food trucks roam the Jersey landscape, fixtures at fairs, festivals, office parks and waterfronts. Check out the Ultimate N.J. Food Truck Guide, broken down into All-American fare, ethnic and seafood, and desserts and beverages. And heres my list of the states 40 best food trucks.

Cant ignore this one. NYC and Philly are an hour or so away from much of New Jersey, promising bright lights, big city, nightlife and restaurants. The Philly food scene is underrated, and New York well, we all know (New Yorkers keep telling us) that the Big Apple makes the best pizza, bagels and just about every other food on earth. Maybe they should be reminded that New Jersey is the center of the food universe.

Fiore's Deli, Hoboken (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

If I had to take one sandwich to my desert island, or the great hereafter, it would probably be the roast beef and homemade mozzarella sub at legendary Fiores. The deli is an old-school deli movie set tin ceiling; fluorescent lighting; a display case filled with olives, roasted red peppers, mushrooms and other specialties. A photo of Mother Teresa is wedged between sardine tins. Theres no website or official Facebook page no surprise there. Theres no printed sandwich menu either just tell whomevers behind the counter what you want, and be sure to ask about the specials. First-timer? Go on Thursday or Saturday, the only days you can get that heavenly roast beef and mozzarella sandwich.

The largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere is in New Jersey where else did you think it would be? That would be the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium and LSC Giant Dome Theater at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. A lighting system capable of producing nearly 300 trillion colors and speakers that can blast 30,000 watts of digital sound add up to a mind-blowing celestial experience.

Rotisserie chicken, Amish Market at Mullica Hill (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The Amish Market at Mullica Hill is one of my two or three favorite specialty food stores in the entire state. Theres a bakery (good bread and sticky buns); a deli; meat and seafood vendors; and ice cream, candy and cheese counters. My favorite thing: the barbecue chickens at Yoders, in the back. Just thinking of them makes me want to jump in my car right now.

Other Amish or Pennsylvania Dutch markets include Dutch Country Farmers Market in Raritan Township (next to Flemington); the Greater Bridgeton Amish Market and the Williamstown Farmers Market.

Jonah Norman, 3, gets wet in the spray of The Great Falls, which look more like Niagara Falls as the floodwaters of the Passaic River flow through Paterson. His father Max Norman brought him down to look at the falls while visiting from Los Angeles (John Munson I The Star-Ledger)SL

Yeah, yeah, everyones heard of the Great Falls, but have you actually been there? Not seen it from a distance, but from the bridge overlooking the states greatest natural wonder? Visit it in floodwater stage, as seen in the photo above, for maximum magnificent effect. While youre there, have a chili dog at hot dog landmark Libbys Lunch, right across the street. Im going to keep writing about the Great Falls until every last New Jerseyan visits it. That may take a while Im continually astonished how many people have never been there. Go. Now. Or Im going to pester you until the end of time.

Sandip Patel, owner of Chowpatty, Oak Tree Road, Iselin (Jerry McCrea I The Star-Ledger)SL

The state is packed with great ethnic food neighborhoods Newarks Ironbound, the Middle Eastern restaurant/markets on Main Street in South Paterson, Little Korea in Palisades Park and Bergenline Avenue in Union City among them but none are more atmospheric than Little India, in Woodbridges Iselin section. Scores of restaurants, sweets shops, food markets, jewelry and clothing stores are crammed along Oak Tree Road. Skirts give way to saris, and free copies of Desi Talk and News India Times are available in newspaper boxes.

Victorian jewel. Impossibly romantic. Lively dining scene. Excellent beach. And a grace period on your parking meter! Cape May does the Jersey Shore experience like no other town. But its not stuffy, encompassing everything from fanciful B&Bs to the hole-in-the-wall Hot Dog Tommys. Speaking of food, Cape May was named one of the nations top 20 food cities by Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

Grill, Donkey's Place, Camden (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

What does South Jersey do better than North or Central Jersey? Cheesesteaks, and its not even debatable. No less an authority than the late Anthony Bourdain proclaimed the best Philly cheesesteak can actually be found in New Jersey, at Donkeys Place in Camden (grill shown in photo). Donkeys also made my list of the states 20 best cheesesteaks.

Pastoral view on one of NJ's scenic highways (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

New Jersey may not be Colorado or even Vermont, but there are some damn scenic roads and countryside here. From the rolling hills of Sussex and Warren counties, clear down to the open, empty spaces of Gloucester and Cumberland, our state and county highways provide front-row seats to a New Jersey you may have forgotten existed. Here are my 20 favorite scenic roads for that perfect drive. Time to get your motor running and head out on the highway.

Mama Chicken, Palisades Park (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Korean fried chicken was once largely a Bergen County thing, but restaurants offering this uber-crunchy twist on Southern fried chicken are starting to spread southward into Edison, New Brunswick and elsewhere. Korean fried chicken is twice-fried, which accounts for the colossal crispiness, and its always made to order, which means a wait of about 15-20 minutes. That wait is so worth it. My two favorite places: Peck Peck in Teaneck and Mama Chicken in Palisades Park (in photo).

Ahh, the county fair. Neon-lit midways, rides spinning into the warm summer night and enough deep-fried food to put a smile on your face and stop your heart at the same time. The county fair is one of Americas great summer traditions. Among the best: the Middlesex County Fair in August, the Warren County Farmers Fair (late July/early August) and the Somerset County 4-H Fair in August.

Pastry selection in one Middle Eastern bakery in Paterson (Brian Donahue I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The Ironbound in Newark and Little India in Iselin are probably the states best-known ethnic food neighborhoods. Less heralded is the cornucopia of Middle Eastern shops, markets, bakeries and restaurants along Main Street in South Paterson. Fattals Syrian Bakery and Nouri Brothers are legendary. For Turkish food, try Toros (theres another location in Clifton); for desserts, Nayef Sweets, just off Main. And on the next blinding hot summer day (I know; itll be a while), try the mint lemonade at Al Basha bracing and refreshing.

A shady, often-overlooked oasis in the midst of the megalopolis, Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, 70 miles long, is paradise for walkers, hikers, fishermen, canoeists and folks who just want to lose themselves for a while. Beside the paths, there are tender houses, wooden bridges and remnants of locks, a reminder of an age when freight moved by mule teams or steam tugboats. Scenic spots include Washington Crossing, Bulls Island and Griggstown.

Serene Custard, VinelandNOAH ADDIS

There are only a few food-related items in this list, so you know this one is special. Serene Custard, on the other side of the railroad tracks in the states largest city by size, opened in 1959; current owner Ed Rone took over in 1984. His wife, Linda, makes the ice cream (32 flavors of hard, three soft-serve). Rone uses what he calls the Rolls-Royce of mixes, from Crowleys, which costs $9 per gallon. Other mixes, he adds, contain a lot of soy and stabilizers. Serene was named the best ice cream in South Jersey in an Inside Jersey ice cream competition, and the soft-serve here remains among the states best rich, creamy and colder than any other soft-serve Ive tried.

South Branch, Raritan River, Clinton (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Hunterdon County is not on this list because I lived there on two different occasions (Clinton town, Alexandria), but because its the prettiest and most picturesque of N.J.'s 21 counties. (Sorry, Warren, Sussex, etc.) Charming small towns, beautiful countryside, winding back roads, farms Hunterdon is a great place for day trips or weekend-long stays. Three of the top 14 towns in my ranking of N.J.'s best small towns are in Hunterdon, including No. 1. The photo shows the Red Mill Museum and the south branch of the Raritan River in Clinton.

Cowtown Rodeo, Pilesgrove (Joe Proudman I The Star-Ledger)

The nations longest-running weekly professional rodeo is in ... New Jersey? Cowtown Rodeo in Pilesgrove, held every Saturday night from late May to late September, features bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback riding, steer wrestling and barrel racing. Sit in the stands: Youll feel as if youre in Montana, or at least somewhere far from Jersey. Pilesgrove is also home to the Corner Bar, the winner of our N.J.'s best bar showdown.

Hackensack River (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Bruce sang about them, of course, but the swamps of North Jersey have come a long way since the 1970s, when parts of the Hackensack River and its tributaries were an environmental nightmare due to pollution. Today, thanks to the Hackensack Riverkeeper and other organizations, the swamps of North Jersey make for prime nature excursions just off the Turnpike. Sign up for one of the Hackensack Riverkeepers eco-cruises; theyre highly recommended.

How many states besides New Jersey have a six story-high, 137-year-old elephant on the National Register of Historic Places? That would be none. Lucy the Elephant, built in 1881 out of a million pieces of timber and 12,000 square feet of tin, is a magnificent must-see. Shes a she, although those tusks of hers are found only on male elephants. You walk up one of Lucys legs to reach the informative museum.

There are a handful of Wawas scattered around North Jersey, but folks up there need to visit South Jersey to see how deeply Wawa is ingrained into South Jersey life and culture. To say they are everywhere in South Jersey is an understatement: There are 127 Wawas within 20 miles of Mount Holly. Wawa may have been hatched in Pennsylvania the first store opened in Folsom, Pa., on April 16, 1964 but the chain is more Garden State than Keystone State. There are 228 Wawas in Pennsylvania and 248 in Jersey and counting. Thats a lot of geese in flight. Wawa is not only a Lenni Lenape term, it also appears in Longfellows The Song of Hiawatha: And in flocks/The wild goose Wawa.

For the ultimate Wawa story, check out this one about a reporters attempt to visit 50 Wawas all over the state in one day.

''The states largest museum" barely does the Newark Museum justice. Its a world-class museum: collections include Arts of Global Africa, American Art and Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean. The museum actually started at the Newark Public Library in 1909, opening in its current space in 1926. The first floor of the 1885 Ballantine House was saved and restored for the Bicentennial as a showcase for the decorative arts. The Dalai Lama attended the consecration of the museums Tibetan Buddhist altar in 1990. The museum also hosts the Newark Black Film Festival, the nations longest-running black film festival. Schoolkids around the state can speak of the celestial wonder of the Alice and Leonard Dreyfuss Full-Dome Planetarium. The last time I visited the museum was to judge a best wing competition, which reminds me I need to re-visit this fabulous space again sometime soon.

Mike Laffey feeds two giraffes at the Cape May County Zoo (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Cape May County Zoo opened in 1978 with an African lion, spider monkeys, some Jersey wildlife and farm animals. It is now home to 550 animals parrots, macaws, kookaburras, bongos, ostriches, ring-tailed lemurs, giraffes, bison, Burmese python, elk, a red panda, black bear, lions and the worlds largest rodent, not to mention flamingos from Michael Jacksons Neverland Ranch. And the 87-acre zoo, amazingly, is free. As in no admission fee. The zoo is New Jerseys own wild kingdom, near the end of its busiest highway.

White Manna in Hackensack (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The White Manna in Hackensack (not to be confused with the equally iconic White Mana in Jersey City) is the Fenway Park of diners a red-trimmed, glass-block jewel with 20 seats and the irresistible smell of meat and onions emanating from the tiny grill. Get a double cheeseburger with onions; its not a big fancy designer burger, but youll dream about it the day after.

Camden is home to the nations most decorated battleship, the BB&T Pavilion, Phillys best cheesesteak, the Walt Whitman House and Adventure Aquarium, where you can find everything from African cichlids and American lobsters to stingrays and waxy monkey frogs. And sharks zebra sharks, silky sharks and sand tiger sharks. Dont forget to say hello to Button and Genny, African hippos that weigh in at a colossal 3,000 pounds each. For the ultimate underwater experience, put on a wetsuit and go nose-to-nose with the sharks.

One of the states grand visual spectacles, the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning packs mass ascensions of huge, colorful balloons, concerts, food and fireworks in one action-packed summer weekend. The launch site is Solberg Airport in Readington, but youll often see the balloons drifting magnificently across Route 202 or 22. The 2020 dates are July 24-26.

Youd think with shiny new convenience stores marching relentlessly across the Jersey landscape, general stores would die and quickly. Think again. At the big, new QuickCheks and Wawas, you can buy breakfast, lunch and dinner, fill up the car and use the ATM just about around the clock. Yet the general store soldiers on, all squeaky floors and sagging ceilings and limited stock. In dozens of towns and hamlets across the state, particularly in Sussex, Warren and Hunterdon counties, the general store is the main business and the best place to catch up on local news and gossip. In several towns, it serves as the local post office. The most atmospheric general stores include Rambos Country Store in Califon and the Allenwood General Store in Wall, an antiques/second-hand wonderland that happens to serve one of the states best Taylor ham/pork roll, egg and cheese sandwiches.

The Great Swamp Natural Wildlife Refuge 7,768 acres of woods, grassland and swamp is a prime bird-watching spot, and youll also see deer, fox, turtles, muskrat and other wildlife along the eight miles of designated hiking trails and the two mile-long auto tour route on Pleasant Plains Road. Despite the name, its striking terrain, and a reminder New Jersey packs a lot of beauty in its overdeveloped self. And to think a major airport was almost built here in the 70s.

The waitresses of the Colonial Diner, Woodbury (Avi Steinhardt)

New Jersey is the most mocked, maligned and misunderstood state. It takes chutzpah and a certain je ne sais quoi to live here. Were forever suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous insults from New Yorkers and other folks who dont know any better. But we somehow rise above it, displaying manners (most of the time, anyway) and a sense of humor, with a bit of attitude thrown in for good measure. Are we perfect? No. But I dont think residents of any other state are more fiercely proud of who they are than the typical Jerseyan.

downtown Spring Lake (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

There are hundreds (thousands?) of reasons why New Jersey is a great place to live. What are your top 10 or 20? Let us know in the comments section.

Ocean Drive, Strathmere (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

N.J.'s 33 best small towns, ranked

N.J.'s 20 most scenic roads

The 25 best Jersey Shore towns, ranked

Visit link:
The 50 best reasons to live in New Jersey - NJ.com

It would be insulting to say that the Corrze dpartement of south-west France was undiscovered. The county has produced not one but two recent French presidents, fields a top-flight rugby team, has world-class strawberries and Limousin beef, great rivers and as much history as it can handle. If youve never heard of it, thats no fault of the locals. Theyve been doing their best for a millennium or two.

And, in places, its worked. The almost unbearably pretty village of Collonges-la-Rouge is discovered by hundreds every day. Canoe-jams on the rivers can turn them into wetter versions of the M25. Plus, next July 9, the Tour de France rolls through the Mondires hills to stop in Jacques Chiracs home village of Sarran. So, no, not really undiscovered but less densely discovered than, say, the next-door Dordogne, with which it shares two rivers, an accent and a taste for duck.

These are rustic surrounds in which, off the few main roads, the lady in the GPS shrugs her shoulders, cattle outnumber people, birds of prey perch on fence-posts and farmers emerge from barns to stare at passing cars. Theyre working, but were on release from quotidian lunacy. We breathe easy and eat well. The landscape both smacks the senses and stiffens the thighs: theres activity here to knock out a marine. And we might bump into Franois Hollande. You need more?

As youll know, the Plus Beaux Villages de France (PBVF) tag is awarded to Frances prettiest villages. Corrze has five way over its fair share of the 159 nationwide and not solely because the PBVF idea originated here, though that doubtless helped. Lovely villages punctuate the landscape, untouched because no-ones built factories or bombed them. Thus, picturesque past prosperity persists in the townscapes, notably from when the viscountcy of Turenne was a semi-independent fiefdom. It had its own money, troops and the wherewithal to dignify villages like the hilltopping Turenne itself, but also Curemonte and Collonges-le-Rouge with castles, town houses and nobility. Collonges also gains from being ruddy of complexion the local stone is reddish and tenaciously preserved. Naturally, it was named the first PBVF in 1982.

The viscountcy lost its footing in the 18th century, when a wastrel scion gambled away the family fortune. The region reverted to the crown. Collonges and the others slumbered, so theyre now in terrific historic nick, well able to supply you with soaps, scarves, novelty mustards and other items which much-visited beauty spots consider vital. In Collonges, the Halle Fermire des Gariotes has formidable regional beer.

Swinging east, Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne and, upriver, Argentat, recall a time when the Dordogne seethed with trade, flat-bottomed gabares taking wood, cheese and leather down to Bordeaux. Now the gabares take out those tourists not already out in canoes and kayaks and everyones as happy as the sunlit stone surroundings require. The greatest stonework? Stand before the extraordinary Last Judgement tympanum of Beaulieus Abbey Church of St Pierre and consider whether its worth continuing to sin. Then go for a drink on a riverside caf terrace, contemplate the river, the forested hills, the flowers and the folk having fun and stop worrying. Theres time yet for repentance.

Further north, the granite town of Meymac steep slate roofs, narrow streets round the abbey heralds the upland Plateau-de-Millevaches so its a surprise to find a gallery of contemporary art in a wing of the old abbey. Its been there 40 years, and re-opens this year on March 28, with a show of Dutch artists (cacmeymac.fr). Curving west, Treignac and Uzerche rise above the Vzre river. Returning Hundred Years War veterans would still find their way round the vaulted passageways, chapels, towers and fortification walls. Down below, the river meanders into gorges and the traveller arrives in Brive which, though the countys biggest town (pop 46,000) isnt its capital, which rankles locally.

Its a cracking place, with a country market town buzz and, out at the Stade Amede Domenech, first division rugby in the company of CA Brive-Corrze-Limousin. Presently managed by ex-Ireland international, Jeremy Davidson, theyre having a middling time this season, but Brive retains the rolling gait of a proper rugby town. Meanwhile, the Muse Edmond Michelet (centremichelet.brive.fr; free) covers the local French resistance, including Michelets own exploits. Later, youll eat well chez Nicolas Eche at En Cuisine (encuisine.net) or chez Christophe Forget at the Bistro C.Forget by the market.

The you might move up the River Corrze (which gave its name to the county) to Tulle, which though smaller than Brive (pop: 14,000), is county capital. It has also provided France with 50 per cent of its 21st-century presidents. For a place the size of Otley, thats good going. Jacques Chirac was Correzien by birth. Franois Hollande wasnt but, as a young man on the political rise in 1980s Paris, was sent by the Socialist Party to take on Chirac in his, Chiracs, fiefdom. Chirac initially called him Mitterrands Labrador. Over the years, though, Hollande became mayor of Tulle, county council leader and, by general agreement, a Correzien by adoption. He and Chirac ended up on warm terms.

For a start, they frequented the same restaurants. Jean Poumiers Le Central where both held court, though not simultaneously is now gone, as is M.Poumier himself. The Taverne du Sommelier, where both presidents also had their tables about six feet apart, survives and thrives (taverne-du-sommelier.fr). Both men prized conviviality. Hollande celebrated his election with duck pt, beef fillet and potato rissoles. In the Taverne, before illness incapacitated him, Chirac treated a 40th-birthday hen party to kisses all round. Belgians dining nearby were impressed. How clever of them to hire a Chirac lookalike for the occasion, they said.

Elsewhere, Tulle stretches along the river, overseen by hills, a 13th-century cathedral with exceptional cloisters and a medieval quartier which scurries between handsome townhouses. Youll not be long in town before learning that Tulle is the only place in France where they still manufacture accordions (the Nuits de Nacre accordion fest is June 25-28 this year; accordeon.org), used to produce arms and is twinned with Bury. A red telephone box underlines this enviable arrangement. It may take longer to hear that, on June 8, 1944, 99 Tulle men were hung from lamp-posts and balconies by the SS, in reprisal for Resistance activity. A further 149 were deported to Dachau. The memorial, on the former rubbish tip where the bodies were chucked, is on the Brive road out of town.

Back to happiness with a trip up the hill to Gimel-les-Cascades, a fine village whose three waterfalls tumble 500 feet in all, providing beauty and a good walk. Then drive on, but be careful. Not too long ago, Mme Bernadette Chiracs car was in collision, near here, with a deer. She was, thank heavens, unharmed. History doesnt recount what befell the deer. But, if this can happen to her, it can certainly happen to you.

If youre not knackered by nightfall, youre not trying. Corrze is a spot where theres a lot more outdoors than in, and several hundred ways of tackling it, mainly exhausting and often wet. Water is ubiquitous in the rivers and lakes (both natural and man-made), in waterfalls, wetlands, peatbogs and springs all over the place. Overspilling into the north of the county, the 1,300-square-mile Plateau-de-Millevaches has lots of cows but the name refers less to cattle, more to a thousand water sources. These are granite uplands, overseen by the 3,200-feet Mont Bessou (the highest round here), punctuated by the springs, doughty villages and broad-leafed woodland. Theres an extravagance of space on a Mongolian scale, and as much walking, cycling, climbing (in the nearby Mondires hills), hang-gliding and even, Ive heard, archery, as a God-given constitution can handle.

The Vzre and Dordogne rivers supply quite the loveliest of gorges as they flow south, out of the county. Between Treignac and Uzerche, the Vzre goes lively enough for white-water sports. Over east, on the Dordogne between Argentat and Beaulieu, the canoeing, bathing and stand-up paddling are terrific. As is the freshwater fishing throughout a region where, Im guessing, the trout probably assumed they were safe. To the south of Tulle, granite starts to give way to limestone causses, but the roads are no straighter nor the countryside much flatter. You hike, ride or drive up and down and round and round and out of time, and then stop to ask cattle for directions, for theres no-one else about. If you wish to back-pedal into the rest of your life, this is, in short, a fine place to start.

In 1969, Jacques and Bernadette Chirac bought the Chteau de Bity in the tiny village of Sarran (pop 275), north of Tulle. Its persistently claimed that the chteau had provided refuge for Trotsky in the 1930s, when he was on the run from Stalin. He was apparently hosted by a retired British secret services chap, the then chteau owner. Trotsky and Chirac successively in the same castle? Nice story, but untrue: Trotsky was, at the time in question, assigned to residence near Grenoble, before leaving for Norway. You need to know this for, when you pass through these parts, someone will undoubtedly recount this tale. Please stand no nonsense.

So, anyway, Sarran was the Chiracs base which is why it is home to the rather spiffing Jacques Chirac Museum (museepresidentjchirac.fr). On display are hundreds of the gifts Chirac received while president, from cowboy boots from Bill Clinton via a composition of nails and wood-pulp from Gerhard Schrder to native masks perhaps too numerous even for a devoted fan like Chirac. Its fascinating, theres a good little restaurant and its here that stage 12 of the Tour de France will end up on July 9.

Not far away, the ruins of Ventadour chteau, high above the river Luzge gorges, recall Bernart de Ventadour, maybe Frances greatest medieval troubadour. His hit songs of courtly love were favourites of Eleanor of Aquitaine. To the south, the medieval Towers of Merle overlook the Maronne river. There are seven of them, each one belonging to a different seigneur, for reasons too complex to go into. But it remains a hell of a collection to come across in the forested middle of nowhere.

Across the county, at Arnac-Pompadour in deep green countryside apparently shipped in from Ireland, we have the fortress-chteau which Louis XV gave to his mistress. This transformed Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson (or Miss Fish) into the Marquise de Pompadour. Later, the splendid pile became a branch of the French National Stud. It remains (also like Ireland) a hub of horse-driven activities racing through jumping, dressage and equine shows which climax in the Grande Semaine de Pompadour, from September 16-20 this year (pompadour.shf.eu).

To the south, at Varetz, another sulphurous lady, the novelist Colette, is celebrated in gardens dedicated to her memory and to places in which she lived. These included Corrze. She was here first as a young woman in 1911 when she was jolly popular, later in 1940 as war-time refugee, when she was not. Her haughtiness meant people were glad to see the back of her. Her reputation, as the queen of bi-sexuality and a woman who had had affairs with teenagers, certainly caused a stir among the country people. At any event, the gardens are lovely, and contain a great butterfly-shaped maze.

As regards natural landmarks, you need to see the extraordinary Bort organ pipes towering columns of rock, born of a lava flow. They line up over two kilometres. South of Brive, the Gouffre de la Fage is a vast chasm with all the expected cave rock formations, plus 14,000 bats Europes largest colony. It would be good to know how the counting was done.

This is south-west France, so the usual suspects show up on the plate. Foie gras, truffles, nuts, veal, beef lots and lots of Limousin beef lamb and pork, notably from local cul noir (black-bottomed) pigs. Tte-de-veau calf head is also common round here, was allegedly Chiracs favourite dish, but remains a bit squidgy for my taste. Better go with ham with truffles, or freshwater fish, which abound. As, around Beaulieu, do strawberries. Tons of them, all celebrated in the river ports Strawberry Fest on May 10 this year. Last years fest smashed all known strawberry records with an 100-foot-long strawberry cake.

This, the south of the region, is also where the Corrze keeps its vineyards. They arent extensive but the wines are worth seeking, notably those from Branceilles. You might also try the Vin Paill. Grapes are picked and dried (theoretically on straw, or paille) for two months, so the sugars are concentrated. Then they are pressed, fermented and aged, giving wines of a rich sweetness which go jolly well with foie gras.

In Brive, go for the Chteau de Lacan a four star in 17th-century surroundings with lovely grounds (hotelchateaulacan.fr; doubles from 83). North of Tulle, try the Mercure La Seniorie in the village which, like the river and county itself, is called Corrze. Its manor-house stately, with lovely terrace and grounds, a decent restaurant and just beyond, the comely little village. Or try rental accommodation, with tourismecorreze.com/en/rental_properties.html or gites-de-france.com.

Ryanair (ryanair.com) has Wednesday and Saturday flights to Brive from Stansted, from April 1 to October 24, 2020. Or rail it St Pancras to Brive, via Paris, takes around 8h30, with fares from around 158 return (https://en.oui.sncf/en).

Follow this link:
The French region with dramatic landscapes and beautiful villages but hardly any tourists - Telegraph.co.uk

Kitchen Remodeling Los Angeles has been awarded the best kitchen designers in LA.

This press release was orginally distributed by SBWire

Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/14/2020 -- KRLA has been dubbed as the best kitchen designers in LA. From redecorating to remodeling kitchens, professionals from this organization are the best people to handle any such task.

Kitchen Remodeling Los Angeles was trying to become the best company in this industry for a long time. After the official news was announced the company expressed their joy through a statement made by board of members. The CEO of this organization stated, "Everyone associated with our company worked hard to reach this spot. Finally being here gives us ample satisfaction."

Also, it was mentioned that this company owe their success to their loyal clients and hardworking professionals who helped in achieving this dream. Moreover, they explained that this is just the start of this company's journey of winning awards and completing accomplishments that was set as goals when it was started.

Since they have become the best Los Angeles kitchen remodel firm, their next goal is to become the best in the entire nation. However, according to various sources, for now they will just enjoy this accomplishment and move slowly towards their next goal.

So, people looking to get their kitchens remodel, knows whom to choose for their work.

About KRLA KRLA is a kitchen remodeling firm in Los Angeles. Recently, they received the award for being the best organization in this business sector.

Media ContactKitchen Remodeling Los Angeles Phone: 310-870-3304Address: 2424 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA-90057Email: info@kitchen-remodeling-los-angeles-ca.comWebsite: http://kitchen-remodeling-los-angeles-ca.com/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/kitchen-remodeling-los-angeles-won-best-company-award-in-this-industry-1276567.htm

Read this article:
Kitchen Remodeling Los Angeles Won Best Company Award in This Industry - Press Release - Digital Journal

You spent the holidays binging on HGTV, and now visions of shiplap accent walls and freestanding soaking tubs are dancing through your head.

Don't let your desire to upgrade your home downgrade your home's market value. Before you make a renovation fantasy a reality, consider whether the project will pay off when you're ready to sell. Plenty of home improvements add value, but others like these five can hurt it.

1. A CHEF-QUALITY KITCHEN

If you love to cook, a high-end kitchen could be the ultimate gift for you. But if you think a massive overhaul will majorly impact resale value, you might be in for a surprise. An upscale kitchen renovation recoups just 54% of its cost in added value, according to Remodeling magazine's 2020 Cost vs. Value report.

"If you do marble countertops and high-end appliances, you could spend $100,000, and it doesn't necessarily mean your house is worth an extra $100,000," says Beatrice de Jong, a consumer trends expert for Opendoor, a San Francisco-based direct home buyer and seller.

Smaller kitchen upgrades could yield a bigger payoff. Chris Arienti, broker and owner of Remax Executive Realty near Boston, suggests keeping updates reasonable: Think granite rather than marble, and GE instead of Sub-Zero.

2. DIY PAINTING

A bold statement wall can say the wrong thing to potential buyers if the workmanship is questionable. Streaky, chipped or low-quality paint can knock $1,700 off a home's sale price, according to Opendoor data that looked at home offers made from June 2018 to June 2019.

"A good paint job is not easy," says Sarah Cunningham, a real estate agent with Ethos Design + Remodel in Boise, Idaho. "It is all in the prep work, and most people don't want to do the prep work." Hiring a professional to paint can help ensure a more attractive result.

3. AN EXPANDED MASTER SUITE

Knocking down a wall to create an oversize master bedroom or stealing closet space to build out a spa-style bathroom may sound dreamy. But how about as a selling point? "If you go from five bedrooms to four, and you can make it work, no big deal," Arienti says. But he cautions that losing a bedroom in a smaller house could mean a lower selling price.

As for cutting into closet space, residential building codes don't mandate that bedrooms have closets. But, Arienti says, "Once you take the closet out of a bedroom, to a buyer, that no longer looks like a bedroom."

4. PLUSH WALL-TO-WALL CARPETING

Carpet can be especially unattractive to first-time home buyers, who may be used to landlords updating carpet between renters, de Jong says.

"In general, people are grossed out by (carpeting). It can make a room look a little bit dated."

It can also ding your sale price. Carpet as the primary flooring in a house drops the value by $3,900 and carpeting in the master bedroom causes a $3,800 plunge, according to Opendoor. Conversely, a 2019 report from the National Association of Realtors estimated that sellers could recoup the entire cost of refinishing hardwood floors. New wood flooring could actually add value, with sellers getting $1.06 for every dollar spent according to NAR.

5. A SWIMMING POOL

It doesn't matter if it's infinity edge or above-ground: Any pool can be seen as a drawback by buyers who don't want to deal with maintenance or insurance. Even in Florida, a pool doesn't add value, Liede DeValdivielso, a real estate agent with the Keyes Company in Miami-Dade, said via email. If you're thinking resale, it's not worth it you'll never recoup the cost, DeValdivielso said. But if you'll use it and enjoy it, put in a pool.

HOW TO DECIDE IF A RENOVATION IS WORTH THE COST

To ensure you're making an informed decision:

CONSIDER YOUR TIMELINE. "If you're going to be in the home for 30 years, you can do anything, because at that point, your mortgage is paid off," Arienti says. Looking to sell in the near future? Pay closer attention to whether your choices will appeal to a potential buyer.

CONSULT AN EXPERT. "Talk to a professional so you aren't making misinformed choices that are going to work against you in five to 10 years," Cunningham says. A designer can help you tell fleeting trends from future classics; a contractor can explain what kind of work a proposed renovation would entail.

COMPARE HOME FEATURES IN YOUR AREA. De Jong suggests looking at comparable homes for sale near you and going to open houses to make sure your improvements align with the norms for your neighborhood.

GET AN APPRAISAL. A licensed appraiser can do a feasibility study to estimate your home's current value and its likely value after the improvements.

___

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Kate Wood is a writer at NerdWallet; email: kwood@nerdwallet.com.

Here is the original post:
Here are 5 home improvements that may not pay off when you sell - Chattanooga Times Free Press

Whether youre thinking about a bathroom update, kitchen overhaul or any other type of home improvement project, these tips from the experts at the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and eLivingtoday.com can help you get started.

Improving your home can be one of the most exciting projects to undertake. Start by setting realistic expectations, determining your goals and needs, finding inspiration and, perhaps most importantly, setting a budget.

You can improve your homes usability and increase its value with bathroom updates or a full renovation. Before you get started, think about these factors: the amount of space and storage you need, features that are important to you, sustainability concerns and accessibility considerations.

The kitchen serves as command-central for most homes and you can get the most enjoyment out of yours by making purposeful changes, reconsidering the physical space, re-evaluating your shopping style and choosing appliances with care.

If its time for a serious undertaking, a full-blown remodel may be necessary (or simply desired). Remodeling typically calls for hiring a professional contractor, a process you can go about by gathering local recommendations, asking for licensing and insurance, checking references and comparing bids.

Find more home improvement ideas and solutions at remodelingdoneright.com and eLivingtoday.com.

Family Features

Related

Read the original post:
Change up your home interior with these ideas from the remodeling experts - Mountain Democrat

You spent the holidays binging on HGTV, and now visions of shiplap accent walls and freestanding soaking tubs are dancing through your head.

Dont let your desire to upgrade your home downgrade your homes market value. Before you make a renovation fantasy a reality, consider whether the project will pay off when youre ready to sell. Plenty of home improvements add value, but others like these five can hurt it.

If you love to cook, a high-end kitchen could be the ultimate gift for you. But if you think a massive overhaul will majorly impact resale value, you might be in for a surprise. An upscale kitchen renovation recoups just 54% of its cost in added value, according to Remodeling magazines 2020 Cost vs. Value report.

If you do marble countertops and high-end appliances, you could spend $100,000, and it doesnt necessarily mean your house is worth an extra $100,000, says Beatrice de Jong, a consumer trends expert for Opendoor, a San Francisco-based direct home buyer and seller.

Smaller kitchen upgrades could yield a bigger payoff. Chris Arienti, broker and owner of Remax Executive Realty near Boston, suggests keeping updates reasonable: Think granite rather than marble, and GE instead of Sub-Zero.

A bold statement wall can say the wrong thing to potential buyers if the workmanship is questionable. Streaky, chipped or low-quality paint can knock $1,700 off a homes sale price, according to Opendoor data that looked at home offers made from June 2018 to June 2019.

A good paint job is not easy, says Sarah Cunningham, a real estate agent with Ethos Design + Remodel in Boise, Idaho. It is all in the prep work, and most people dont want to do the prep work. Hiring a professional to paint can help ensure a more attractive result.

Knocking down a wall to create an oversize master bedroom or stealing closet space to build out a spa-style bathroom may sound dreamy. But how about as a selling point? If you go from five bedrooms to four, and you can make it work, no big deal, Arienti says. But he cautions that losing a bedroom in a smaller house could mean a lower selling price.

As for cutting into closet space, residential building codes dont mandate that bedrooms have closets. But, Arienti says, Once you take the closet out of a bedroom, to a buyer, that no longer looks like a bedroom.

Carpet can be especially unattractive to first-time home buyers, who may be used to landlords updating carpet between renters, de Jong says.

In general, people are grossed out by (carpeting). It can make a room look a little bit dated.

It can also ding your sale price. Carpet as the primary flooring in a house drops the value by $3,900 and carpeting in the master bedroom causes a $3,800 plunge, according to Opendoor. Conversely, a 2019 report from the National Association of Realtors estimated that sellers could recoup the entire cost of refinishing hardwood floors. New wood flooring could actually add value, with sellers getting $1.06 for every dollar spent according to NAR.

It doesnt matter if its infinity edge or above-ground: Any pool can be seen as a drawback by buyers who dont want to deal with maintenance or insurance. Even in Florida, a pool doesnt add value, Liede DeValdivielso, a real estate agent with the Keyes Company in Miami-Dade, said via email. If youre thinking resale, its not worth it youll never recoup the cost, DeValdivielso said. But if youll use it and enjoy it, put in a pool.

To ensure youre making an informed decision:

CONSIDER YOUR TIMELINE. If youre going to be in the home for 30 years, you can do anything, because at that point, your mortgage is paid off, Arienti says. Looking to sell in the near future? Pay closer attention to whether your choices will appeal to a potential buyer.

CONSULT AN EXPERT. Talk to a professional so you arent making misinformed choices that are going to work against you in five to 10 years, Cunningham says. A designer can help you tell fleeting trends from future classics; a contractor can explain what kind of work a proposed renovation would entail.

COMPARE HOME FEATURES IN YOUR AREA. De Jong suggests looking at comparable homes for sale near you and going to open houses to make sure your improvements align with the norms for your neighborhood.

GET AN APPRAISAL. A licensed appraiser can do a feasibility study to estimate your homes current value and its likely value after the improvements.

Visit link:
5 home improvements that may not pay off - GazetteNET

You spent the holidays binging on HGTV, and now visions of shiplap accent walls and freestanding soaking tubs are dancing through your head.

Dont let your desire to upgrade your home downgrade your home's market value. Before you make a renovation fantasy a reality, consider whether the project will pay off when you're ready to sell. Plenty of home improvements add value, but others like these five can hurt it.

1. A CHEF-QUALITY KITCHEN

If you love to cook, a high-end kitchen could be the ultimate gift for you. But if you think a massive overhaul will majorly impact resale value, you might be in for a surprise. An upscale kitchen renovation recoups just 54% of its cost in added value, according to Remodeling magazine's 2020 Cost vs. Value report.

"If you do marble countertops and high-end appliances, you could spend $100,000, and it doesn't necessarily mean your house is worth an extra $100,000," says Beatrice de Jong, a consumer trends expert for Opendoor, a San Francisco-based direct home buyer and seller.

Smaller kitchen upgrades could yield a bigger payoff. Chris Arienti, broker and owner of Remax Executive Realty near Boston, suggests keeping updates reasonable: Think granite rather than marble, and GE instead of Sub-Zero.

2. DIY PAINTING

A bold statement wall can say the wrong thing to potential buyers if the workmanship is questionable. Streaky, chipped or low-quality paint can knock $1,700 off a home's sale price, according to Opendoor data that looked at home offers made from June 2018 to June 2019.

"A good paint job is not easy," says Sarah Cunningham, a real estate agent with Ethos Design + Remodel in Boise, Idaho. "It is all in the prep work, and most people don't want to do the prep work." Hiring a professional to paint can help ensure a more attractive result.

3. AN EXPANDED MASTER SUITE

Knocking down a wall to create an oversize master bedroom or stealing closet space to build out a spa-style bathroom may sound dreamy. But how about as a selling point? "If you go from five bedrooms to four, and you can make it work, no big deal," Arienti says. But he cautions that losing a bedroom in a smaller house could mean a lower selling price.

As for cutting into closet space, residential building codes don't mandate that bedrooms have closets. But, Arienti says, "Once you take the closet out of a bedroom, to a buyer, that no longer looks like a bedroom."

4. PLUSH WALL-TO-WALL CARPETING

Carpet can be especially unattractive to first-time home buyers, who may be used to landlords updating carpet between renters, de Jong says.

"In general, people are grossed out by (carpeting). It can make a room look a little bit dated."

It can also ding your sale price. Carpet as the primary flooring in a house drops the value by $3,900 and carpeting in the master bedroom causes a $3,800 plunge, according to Opendoor. Conversely, a 2019 report from the National Association of Realtors estimated that sellers could recoup the entire cost of refinishing hardwood floors. New wood flooring could actually add value, with sellers getting $1.06 for every dollar spent according to NAR.

5. A SWIMMING POOL

It doesn't matter if it's infinity edge or above-ground: Any pool can be seen as a drawback by buyers who don't want to deal with maintenance or insurance. Even in Florida, a pool doesn't add value, Liede DeValdivielso, a real estate agent with the Keyes Company in Miami-Dade, said via email. If you're thinking resale, it's not worth it you'll never recoup the cost, DeValdivielso said. But if you'll use it and enjoy it, put in a pool.

HOW TO DECIDE IF A RENOVATION IS WORTH THE COST

To ensure youre making an informed decision:

CONSIDER YOUR TIMELINE. "If you're going to be in the home for 30 years, you can do anything, because at that point, your mortgage is paid off," Arienti says. Looking to sell in the near future? Pay closer attention to whether your choices will appeal to a potential buyer.

CONSULT AN EXPERT. "Talk to a professional so you aren't making misinformed choices that are going to work against you in five to 10 years," Cunningham says. A designer can help you tell fleeting trends from future classics; a contractor can explain what kind of work a proposed renovation would entail.

COMPARE HOME FEATURES IN YOUR AREA. De Jong suggests looking at comparable homes for sale near you and going to open houses to make sure your improvements align with the norms for your neighborhood.

GET AN APPRAISAL. A licensed appraiser can do a feasibility study to estimate your home's current value and its likely value after the improvements.

___

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Kate Wood is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: kwood@nerdwallet.com.

Link:
5 home improvements that may not pay off when you sell - Minneapolis Star Tribune

By Kerri Westenberg, TNS Published 5:16 p.m. ET Feb. 13, 2020

MINNEAPOLIS When Somia Mourad first walked into the Kenwood home that she would buy, she saw dark-stained oak woodwork mixed with white woodwork on much of the main level. In the kitchen, three different wood finishes fragmented the space.

The house had clearly gone through a ton of renovations, Mourad said. Though the work had been done with care and had been maintained well, she wanted a more cohesive look. So even before she, her husband, Keith Bush, and their two daughters moved into the 1891 three-story, painters were summoned. The fireplace mantel, centerpiece of a gracious living room, went from a dark oak stain to white enameled paint so that it would match the shelves on either side, which were already white. Beams in the ceiling got the same treatment. Wood panels in the dining room, which is open to the living room, also got coats of white paint.

Many buyers are seeking a move-in-ready home that reflects the modern aesthetic of clean white woodwork. (Dreamstime/TNS) (Photo: Dreamstime, TNS)

Like many of todays home buyers, Mourad and Bush prefer the sleek, clean look of white enameled woodwork. But their experience also speaks to the conundrum of sellers considering whether to paint their woodwork in order to sell a house more quickly. Many buyers are seeking a move-in-ready home that reflects the modern aesthetic of clean white woodwork. But some homes, especially Craftsmans and Victorians, can dazzle with stained wood.

Mourad said she fell for her house the moment they walked in and saw the wood door that led to an entryway with delicately detailed woodwork.

The entryway was so warm just stunning with intricate carvings on the wood banister at the staircase; I didnt want anyone to touch it, Mourad recalled. She kept that nod to the history of the home, even as the painters set to work on other parts of the house.

Sometimes a home shows best when it remains true to character. The oak beams and other wood accents of Craftsman-style bungalows, for example, help make those homes distinct.

You wouldnt change the color of a classic car, even if its a little funky, and sometimes you shouldnt paint the woodwork of a house, said Ruth Whitney Bowe, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Burnets Minneapolis Lakes office.

Many buyers seek a light, modern aesthetic, but some homes, such as Craftsmans, can dazzle with dark woodwork. (Brian Peterson/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)(Photo: Brian Peterson, TNS)

In mid-century modern homes, wood paneling and other details can warm up the clean lines. In Victorians, intricate woodwork can speak to the homes original era and can also be expensive to paint.

In addition to the style of the home, competition is another factor.

If a home is in an area surrounded by other homes with wood cabinets in the kitchens, there may be no need to turn the woodwork white, Bowe said. But most often, white woodwork helps a house sell.

Millennials love white

Jayne Morrison of Morrison Interiors is a designer and stager who helps people ready their homes for the marketplace.

Millennial buyers want white woodwork, she said. If we are staging for a young family in a neighborhood of young families, it is advisable to have woodwork painted white.

Thats especially so for owners of homes built in the 1980s with the golden oak woodwork that was popular during that era.

If you are in a 1980s house and you have a lot of that golden oak woodwork, [painting it white] will help sell your house faster, she said.

Morrison is seeing a generational shift as she works with homeowners on design.

Baby boomers love woodwork, she said. Millennial clients say they want an estimate for painting everything white. It is quite pricey, but often they go ahead and do it. They want that total white woodwork look.

Whether it is sellers or new homeowners hoping to create a space they adore, the decision to paint is often based on that bad word that starts with b: budget, Morrison said. When clients decide to do the painting themselves to save money, she suggests they start in one room and see how it goes before tackling the entire house.

Painted woodwork is a fresh look, she notes, and its been going strong since 2010. In recent years, she has seen the white warming up a bit, shifting to warm gray.

When Mourad got around to remodeling her kitchen and ridding the space of three different wood finishes, in fact, a designer suggested that she paint the center island gray to contrast with the white paint elsewhere in the kitchen and the home. Mourad declined, preferring to keep the look cohesive. Plus, she said, I knew I would never tire of white.

And she hasnt. Now when I walk into the house, I feel peaceful, uplifted, happy. There is a lightness and a calm, she said. It is amazing how much woodwork impacts the feel of a home.

Read or Share this story: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/home-garden/2020/02/13/tackling-controversial-question-should-you-paint-woodwork-white/4741633002/

Read this article:
Tackling a controversial question: Should you paint the woodwork white? - The Detroit News

The lack of snow this winter season has been frustrating for companies that make good money removing it.

Its been slow. Today is the slowest winter in the last six years Id say, said Joseph Mandell, owner of Better Lawns & Beyond.

Mandell says usually his crew of six jumps in their trucks when the snow starts to fall and they plow properties all over western Connecticut, from Danbury to Torrington to Canton.

This winter has been busy with work, though not when itcomes to clearing snow.

We do asphalt repair due to peoples driveways get deteriorated.So we will do asphalt patching and repair. Fire pits. Even since the weatherhas been, hasnt been snowing as much we can do cleanups, gutter cleaning. Evendone power washing this winter, said Mandell.

So far this season the NBC Connecticut First Alert meteorologistsreport weve received 25.4 inches of snow, though most of that was in December.

Thats 9 inches below normal.

And with five more weeks until winter is officially over,some are hoping for a change in the weather pattern.

That would be nice if it started snowing more wed be happy.It gives us more consistency. Its either that or if it goes away Id be evenmore happier if the sun came out and we could get into more cleanups and planting,said Mandell.

View original post here:
Contractors Deal with Slowest Winter in Years - NBC Connecticut